49 CFR §391.25 (Annual MVR Inquiry and Review)
49 CFR §391.25 is the FMCSA regulation that requires every motor carrier to obtain a fresh Motor Vehicle Record on each driver at least once every twelve months and conduct a documented annual review of the driver's qualifications.
What it is
The rule has three parts. §391.25(a) requires the carrier to obtain a current MVR from each state in which the driver held an operator's license or permit during the prior twelve months. §391.25(b) requires a designated company official to review the new MVR plus any other information about the driver's record (accidents, complaints, driver-reported violations); the reviewer must consider whether the driver still meets §391.15 disqualification criteria. §391.25(c) then puts both documents in the DQ File - the MVR itself under (c)(1), and a note of the review naming the reviewer and the date under (c)(2).
How it applies
In practice, carriers run §391.25 on the anniversary of hire or on a fleet-wide review cycle. The annual review is a documented pause where someone with authority signs off that the driver is still qualified - it is not a checkbox; the regulation expects the reviewer to actually consider whether anything new on the record disqualifies the driver under §391.15. The MVR plus the written annual-review note both go in the DQ File and stay there for three years from the date of the review.
Why it matters
Stale annual MVRs are the second most-cited DQ File finding after missing §391.23 records. A pattern of missing or late §391.25 reviews shows up on a carrier's safety profile and can cost them satisfactory rating - which in turn can cost them brokers, shippers, and insurance.
Related terms
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